His dad ran track for MSU, a brother plays football on scholarship for the Green & White and the young man has been on campus numerous times, most recently at MSU's first junior day of the year.

White reported a good time at the junior day, despite battling a bout of bronchitis. White said it had been a little while since he saw the MSU coaches and enjoyed that aspect of his trip.

"It's really comfortable up there and it was nice to touch base with coaches again," he said.

In 2008, White rushed for 1,610 yards and scored 28 touchdowns for Livonia Stevenson, lead his current Spartans to the MHSAA semifinals before falling in East Lansing in Spartan Stadium. He also returned kicks and had 310 receiving yards.

His versatility is something the coaching staff has explored. At his last visit, White spent some quality time with Mark Dantonio. The head coach told Austin he could see the young man at numerous positions: running back for sure, but White could develop into a wide receiver or cornerback as well.

White also got a chance to speak with running back coach Dan Enos, a recruiting fixture in southeast Michigan.

"Coach Enos told me they are going to take one running back next year," he said. "And they want that player to be me."

In a few weeks, the MSU coaching staff will have another chance to convince White of an early commitment at the February junior day, although Austin has been on record as saying he wants to be methodical in his recruiting decision.

"I want to get up there to see a basketball game," he said.

State landed the two best running backs in Michigan for 2009, why not the best for 2010?

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